Pneumatic window operating device



y 1969 H. ZOLTOK PNEUMATIC WINDOW OPERATING DEVICE Filed April 12, 1968 K m L R Y OZ m m E 0 MH A M FIGJ United States Patent 3,442,050 PNEUMATIC WINDOW OPERATING DEVICE Harry Zoltok, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, assignor to Motor Coach Industries Limited, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Filed Apr. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 720,841 Int. Cl. Ef 15/08, 15/16 U.S. Cl. 49-349 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pneumatically operated windows, particularly pneumatically operated windows for buses, coaches and the like.

Such windows, particularly the drivers windows, are relatively wide and heavy and, when pneumatically or hydraulically operated, often jam in the side guides due to misalignment. It is usual to overcome this by providing a pair of compensating piston and cylinder assemblies which automatically jockey the window upwardly in the guides in order to avoid the jamming tendency. However, such structures are relatively expensive and still give considerable trouble in operation, particularly in cold weather.

I have overcome these disadvantages by providing a single piston and cylinder assembly which is universally mounted in a spherical bearing above the centre point thereof so that alignment is automatic. This spherical bearing is used in conjunction with a universal ball type connection between the piston rod and the lower frame edge of the window.

This structure permits the piston and cylinder to pivot in any plane within limits so that any tendency to jam is automatically relieved by the universal mounting of t e piston and cylinder assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing considerations in view, and such other objects, purposes or advantages as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept which embraces or includes the method, process, construction, arrangement of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, as herein particularly exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the piston and cylinder assembly with supporting structure showing the attachment to the bottom edge of the associated window.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the spherical bearing and part of the piston and cylinder assembly, at right angles to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view exaggerated in scale showing the operation of the self-aligning bearing in one plane.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference to FIGURE 1 will show that supporting framework 10 forming part of the frame, carries a supporting bracket 11 extending between the upper horizontal portion 12 of the supporting surface downwardly therealong.

A gland fitting 13 in an aperture within the horizontal portion 12 permits vertical movement of a piston rod 14 therethrough, said piston rod being part of a piston and cylinder assembly and including a pneumatic cylinder 15 supplied by a source of pneumatic pressure through conduit or hose 16 at the lower end 17 thereof.

A ball 18 is secured to the upper end 19 of the piston rod and a split bearing 20 engages the ball which can move with relation to the split bearing 20. Split bearing 20 is secured to the bottom rail 21 of a bus window, reference character 22 indicating the glass component and 23, one of he vertical side supports.

The cylinder 15 is mounted within a spherical bearing collectively designated 24 held by bracket 11 by means of bolt 25. This spherical bearing consists of a substantially spherical ball 26 vertically apertured to slide along the cylinder 15 and to be secured thereto by means of an adhesive indicated by reference character 27. It is desirable to secure the ball by adhesive in order to prevent any distortion occurring to the cylinder walls.

' A pillow block assembly 28 surrounds the ball 26 and is held to the bracket by the aforementioned bolt 25, pressure being suflicient to prevent play yet still permitting the cylinder to be moved in a. plane within limits of the spherical bearing assembly.

FIGURE 3 shows in exaggerated form, the action of the device.

Reference character 29 shows the piston and cylinder in alignment raising the window 22. If one corner 30 of the window jams within the side guides 31, the window tends to cant as indicated by the dotted lines 32. This permits the piston and cylinder assembly to angulate with respect to the spherical hearing as shown by dotted line 33 so that more pressure is now placed upon the left-hand side of the window with reference to FIGURE 3 thus raising same to the position shown by dotted line 34 and allowing the piston and cylinder assembly to take up the position shown by the dotted line 35, it being fully understood that this action is highly exaggerated in FIGURE 3.

The same action can also take place in the event of misalignment in a plane at right angles to that shown in FIGURE 3, but due to the spherical action of the bearing, a similar compensating or self-aligning effect is evident. The ball 18 and split bearing 20 is essential, of course, for the efficient operating of the device in order to provide full self-alignment.

Various modications can be made Within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Accordingly, it is intended that what is described herein should be regarded as illustrative of such concept and not for the purpose of limiting protection to any particular embodiment thereof, but that only such limitations should be placed upon the scope of protection to which the inventor hereof is entitled, as justice dictates.

What is claimed to be the present invention is:

1. A pneumatic window operator for windows which includes a window component and a frame component within which the sides of said window component engage, said frame component including a sill and supporting structure associated therewith; said operator comprising in combination a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly mounted below said sill, and self-aligning means mounting said piston and cylinder assembly for universal move ment within limits and a ball joint universal fitting on 3 the upper end of the piston rod of said assembly pivotally connected to the centre of the underside of the associated window component.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said means includes a spherical bearing secured to said supporting structure, said cylinder being journalled between the ends thereof, in said spherical bearing.

3. The device according to claim 2 in which said spherical bearing includes a ball component vertically apertured, said ball component engaging around said cylinder by the aperture through said ball component, said ball being adhesively secured to said cylinder along the length thereof and above the mid-point of said length.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,311,972 2/1943 Simpson 49349 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,310,839 10/1962 France.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

10 J. KARL BELL, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 49360 

